Tom Patchett is a comedy writer who, with partner Jay Tarses, contributed to the screenplays for The Great Muppet Caper and The Muppets Take Manhattan. The team of Patchett and Tarses served as writers and producers on The Bob Newhart Show and the short-lived sitcom Buffalo Bill, starring Dabney Coleman. When the team split, Patchett joined with Paul Fusco on ALF, serving as writer, director, producer, and general consultant on the live-action series, animated spin-offs, and TV movie Project: ALF.